Salpingo-ovariolysis by laparoscopy in infertility

Lysis of periadnexal adhesions (salpingo-ovariolysis) by laparoscopy was performed on 92 infertile patients who subsequently have been followed for at least 9 months. In each instance, the duration of infertility was longer than 20 months. Periadnexal adhesions were severe in most cases and moderate in the remainder. Moreover, only those cases where ovum pickup by the oviduct with the lesser pathology was deemed impossible or greatly hampered were included in this series. There were no significant postoperative complications. Of the total of 92 patients, 57 (62%) achieved at least one intrauterine pregnancy, 54 (58.7%) had one or more full-term pregnancies, and 5 patients (5.4%) had ectopic pregnancies. With appropriately selected patients and in trained hands, laparoscopic salpingo-ovariolysis is a low-risk procedure associated with a surprisingly good success rate. It can be performed on a day-care basis with considerable savings to the patient in terms of both hospital stay and avoidance of major abdominal surgery.